Funds are among more than $1 million in grants and scholarships awarded to local organizations and individuals this year

Legacy Foundation announces the recipients of $260,000 in college scholarship awards for 2012.

Legacy Foundation, Lake County’s leading philanthropic partner, manages 30 scholarship programs within its $40 million in assets. The foundation’s scholarship committees, comprised of community volunteers, annually review applications from hundreds of high-school seniors and current college students.

“One of Legacy Foundation’s most important roles is to support and encourage educational achievement,” said Harry J. Vande Velde III, president and chief executive officer of Legacy Foundation. “Diverse groups of dozens of volunteers from throughout the community are engaged in selecting these worthy recipients, based on the many accomplishments of these young people and the promise they show for their college careers and beyond.”

The scholarships are among nearly $1.1 million in grants and scholarships funded by Legacy Foundation during the first six months of 2012. In addition to the $260,000 in new scholarship awards, the foundation supports students currently enrolled in school with the help of $531,000 in renewable scholarships.

Also during 2012 thus far, Legacy Foundation has granted nearly $306,000 to Northwest Indiana nonprofit organizations that are improving the quality of life and educational opportunities for area residents.

For details about the many scholarships available through Legacy Foundation, visit the website at www.legacyfdn.org/scholarships.LakeCounty high-school and college students are encouraged to check the site for information about available scholarship funds.

Scholarships, 2012 recipients named by Legacy Foundation and their respective schools include:

The Cara Spicer Scholarship was created this year in her memory by her family. The first recipients are: four students who will receive summer band tuition assistance through Books, Brushes, and Bands; four students who will receive art instruction and supplies through South Shore Arts; and one Wirt-Emerson Visual and Performing Art Academy student who will receive help with expenses while attending a summer program at Alvin Ailey Dance Training in New York City.

Six outstanding Lake County students have been named recipients of four-year, full-tuition scholarships as the Legacy Foundation 2012 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars.

Each Lilly Scholar will receive full tuition to the Indiana college or university of her choice and a $900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.

The local 2012 Lilly Scholars are:

Jackeline Fernandez of East Chicago Central High School, daughter of Marie Maysonet

Cassandra Firchau of Crown Point High School, daughter of Leo and Rosanne Firchau

Sarah Guistolisi of Griffith High School, daughter of Michael and Laura Guistolisi

Taylor Hillegonds of Hanover Central High School, daughter of William and Michelle Hillegonds

Tanisha Howard of West Side Leadership Academy in Gary, daughter of Patricia Howard

Desiree Swartz of River Forest High School in Hobart, daughter of Sherri Swartz

“As Lake County’s leading philanthropic resource, one of Legacy Foundation’s most important roles is to support educational opportunity,” said Harry J. Vande Velde III, president and chief executive officer of Legacy Foundation. “We are proud to recognize the many accomplishments of these young people as they begin their promising college careers, and to partner with Lilly Endowment in advancing them toward their futures.”

Legacy Foundation recognized the Lilly Scholars with a dinner in their honor at Innsbrook Country Club. The event featured keynote speaker Jared Tomich, a former National Football League player and Lake Central High School graduate who returned to the Lake County community to found Ignite Sports Performance Centers, Fuel Fitness Centers and the Halo of Hope Foundation. The foundation offers camp experiences to children undergoing treatment for cancer.

Philanthropist and former NFL player Jared Tomich speaks to the 2012 Lilly Scholars.

Tomich encouraged the young scholarship recipients to enjoy college and life experiences, and to come back home to give back to their community.

“When I was done playing (in the NFL), there was no question, my roots were here. I came home and started my businesses,” Tomich said.

Each high school in Lake County was invited to submit an applicant for the prestigious Lilly scholarships. A total of 224 students from 27 schools applied for the 2012 awards. Those nominated by their high schools were evaluated based on academic performance, demonstrated leadership skills, service to others, character, a written narrative, demonstrated financial need and an interview.

After Legacy Foundation’s scholarship committee narrowed the field to six nominees and four alternates, the finalists’ names were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) for the selection of the recipients. ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree-granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.

“The selection process was challenging because all the candidates showed significant academic achievement while participating in extracurricular activities, holding jobs and giving back to the community,” said Martha Rivas-Ramos, a member of Legacy Foundation’s board of directors as well as a member of the Scholarship Committee. “The applicants from throughout Lake County have achieved a great deal at a young age, and we are confident that they will make important contributions to our community in the years to come.”

The Lilly scholarships were created in 1998 by a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Indiana students reach higher levels of education. Indiana ranks among the lowest states in the percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree.

This year community foundations around the state awarded 142 Lilly scholarships. Since the inception of the program, Legacy Foundation has awarded 145 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships to Lake County students.

Legacy Foundation is distributing more than $350,000 in college scholarship funds for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Legacy Foundation, Lake County’s philanthropic partner, manages more than 25 scholarship programs among its $38 million in assets. The Foundation’s scholarship committees, comprised of community volunteers, annually review applications from hundreds of high-school seniors and current college students.

“One of Legacy Foundation’s most important roles is to support and encourage educational attainment. Scholarships help students achieve their goals,” said Harry J. Vande Velde III, president and chief executive officer of Legacy Foundation. “Diverse groups of dozens of volunteers from throughout the community are engaged in selecting worthy recipients of scholarship awards, based on the many accomplishments of these young people and the promise they show for their college careers and beyond.”

Among the scholarship programs managed by Legacy Foundation are the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships for Lake County and the Legacy Scholarships. Awards from those programs for 2011 have been previously announced.

William J. Moran Indiana University School of Law Scholarship: John McKinlay, Indiana University School of Law (Andrean High School 1995)

For details about any of these scholarships, see Legacy Foundation’s Web site at www.legacyfoundationlakeco.org/scholarships. Lake County high school and college students are encouraged to check the site for information about available scholarship funds.

Kimberly Reppa of Hanover Central High School, daughter of Paul and Denene Reppa

Kelly Rostin of Crown Point High School, daughter of Timothy and Kimberly Rostin

Jeremy Washington of Hammond High School, son of Jeff and Tameka Jones

“One of the most important roles of Legacy Foundation in Lake County is to support educational achievement,” said Harry J. Vande Velde III, president and chief executive officer of Legacy Foundation. “We are proud to recognize the many accomplishments of these young people as they begin their promising college careers, and to partner with Lilly Endowment in advancing them toward their futures.”

Each high school in Lake County was invited to submit an applicant for the prestigious Lilly scholarships. A total of 208 students from 25 schools applied. Those nominated by their high schools were evaluated based on academic performance, demonstrated leadership skills, service to others, character, a written narrative, demonstrated financial need and an interview.

After Legacy Foundation’s scholarship committee narrowed the field to six nominees and two alternates, the finalists’ names were submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI) for the selection of the recipients. ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree-granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.

“The selection process is very difficult because all the candidates show significant academic achievement while participating in extracurricular activities, holding jobs and giving back to the community,” said Robert Nickovich, chairman of Legacy Foundation’s board of directors and a member of the Scholarship Committee. “The applicants from all the high schools have achieved a great deal at a young age, and we are confident that they will make important contributions to our community in the years to come.”

The Lilly scholarships were created in 1998 by a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Indiana students reach higher levels of education. Indiana ranks among the lowest states in the percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree.

This year community foundations around the state awarded 142 Lilly scholarships. Since the inception of the program, Legacy Foundation has awarded nearly 140 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships to Lake County students.

Legacy Foundation manages more than 25 scholarship programs. Lake County residents who will graduate high school this year still have time to apply for numerous scholarship opportunities and are encouraged to check Legacy Foundation’s Web site for information at www.legacyfoundationlakeco.org/scholarships.

The Lilly Scholars and their parents will be honored at a banquet in late April. In addition, winners of all scholarships managed by Legacy Foundation as well as current and past Lilly Scholars will be invited to a celebration of their achievements at a Gary South Shore Railcats game in June.

It’s that time of year again. The Lilly Survey is here. (Recent graduates this will be your first one.) With the help of Independent Colleges of Indiana (who oversee the Lilly Scholarship Program) it’s now hi-tech.

Here’s how it works: Click on the link below. You will be asked for identifying information (name and county) which will pull up your personal student record. Then it’s just a matter of filling in and changing any current information before submitting the data.

For 2004 Lilly Scholars: If you have not yet graduated please DO NOT fill out this survey. Send an email to me at kbernstein@legacyfoundationlakeco.org letting me know the status of your schooling and your intended graduation date.

The DEADLINE IS JUNE 20th. So please don’t delay.

I hope to see all of you this summer when Legacy hosts a picnic on July 24th, so Save the Date. This will be in Highland and in conjunction with a free concert that I think you’ll like. More information to follow.